Radio antenna



June 25, 1940. J. F. COURTNEY 2,205,846

RADIO ANTENNA Filed Feb. 9, 1939 v2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Patented June 25, 1940 um'reo STATES ATEN'T Price 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in radio antennas and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is especially concerned with antennas adapted for use in connection with automotive vehicles having a compartment defined, at least in part, by a roof portion. Such vehicles are exemplified by automobiles of the closed body type, trucks with enclosed cab, passenger busses, motor boats with enclosed cabins and airplanes provided with Windshields.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an antenna for automotive vehicles which may be manipulated from within the closed compartment thereof for projection through the roof into its extended condition which is the maximum signal pickup position, or for retraction into its minimum signal pickup position within said compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna of this kind which includes a main extensible and retractible antenna member and an auxiliary antenna member that is extensible and retractible with respect to the main one, so

arranged as to be manipulatable from within the vehicle compartment and whereby it is possible to provide that height of the antenna necessary for good signal reception.

Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna which is more efiicient in signal pick up, is better shielded against engine noises, is simple in construction for low cost production and which does not materially obscure vision through the windshield.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide anantenna which when retracted into its minimum signal receiving condition, is so concealed from view from the outside of the vehicle, as to be substantially unnoticeable.

Again, it is a further object of the invention to provide an antenna of this kind which when in its extended maximum signal receiving position is above any ground as provided by the vehicle roof and body thus insuring satisfactory signal pick-up and which permits the use of a short lead in to the receiving set for a better transmission of signal energy from the antenna to the set, with substantially no signal energy loss.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a "through the roof type of antenna for vehicles which may be easily installed without interfering with parts concealed in the front corner posts of the vehicle and without interfering with parts located on or under the instrument board or panel and its shelf.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the upper front end portion of an automotive vehicle body, equipped with an antenna embodying one form of the invention and illustrates the parts thereof in the retracted minimum signal receiving or pick-up condition.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view through that part of the vehicle body appearing .in Fig. 1 and illustrates the antenna as projected into its highest and maximum signal receiving or pick-up condition.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of those parts of the improved antenna and associated vehicle body parts appearing in the upper portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view on the scale of Fig. 3 and illustrates those parts of the improved antenna and associated vehicle body parts appearing in the lower portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a part of the antenna, on a further enlarged scale as taken on the line t-t of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a part of the improved antenna on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through a part of the improved antenna, as taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 6. 35

Figs. 8-9-10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the steps of projecting the antenna from its retracted minimum signal receiving or pick-up condition, to its fullest extended, maximum signal receiving or pickup condition and which figures will be more fully referred to later.

The invention is herein illustrated and will be herein described as employed in connection with a passenger automobile of the sedan or closed body type but this is to be considered as by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

The vehicle body appearing in Figs. 1 to i inclusive of the drawi gs include a metal top or roof portion iii, a windshield It, a cowl ii and an instrument board or panel it, the latter in many instances including a substantially horizontal shelf it. The parts just mentioned are conventional in automobile bodies of the closed type and are so well-known as to require no furea lid the underside of the portion 2! of the bracket structure 23.

The improved antenna which is of the telescopic extensible and retractible type, includes a cap piece 25 fixed externally to the fore part of the roof portion i and preferably in the longitudinal median line of the vehicle and which with the windshield division strip 26 (see Fig. 1) when the windshield is of the divided type. The cap piece which is made of one of the molded insulating plastics, is of streamline shape to harmonize with the lines of the vehicle body. I The bottom surface of said cap piece has a contour to fit the shape of that part of the roof portion it engages and includes a boss 21 that extends down through an opening 28 made therefor in the fore part of said rool' portion. A compressible gasket 23 preferably of rubber is arranged between the underside of the cap piece and that part of the roof portion covered thereby.

A metal retainer line is coincident tube 30, arranged in a plane parallel to that of the windshield, extends through the cap piece as best appears in Fig. 3. tube is of such length that its bottom end extends through and below a shouldered bushing 35 in the portion 2| of the bracket structure 23 and the bottom end of said tube is threaded to receive a nut 32. The top end of said tube is fixed to a bushing 33 engaged on a seat provided therefor on the cap piece and this bushing is threaded to receive a crown-like nut 33. A gasket 35 of compressible material.is disposed between said bushing and the crown piece. Preferably this gasket is either an oil saturated felt or wicking and the crown nut and the gasket are made to permit of a sliding movement of another part of the antenna therethrough as will later appear.

35 indicates the supporting tube of the antenna, the top end portion of which has a snug friction fit in the lower end portion of the retainer tube 30. For ease in inserting the top end portion of the tube 36 into the retainer tube, in the assembly of the antenna, the extremity of said end portion of the tube is tapered as best appears in Fig. 3. The supporting tube 36 which is arranged in a. plane parallel with that of the windshield, is spaced rearwardly of the windshield. Said tube has a longitudinal slit or slot 31 in that side facing the windshield and said slit or slot extends from the bottom end of said tube up to the nut 32.

38 indicates an extension and which extension tube is tube for the tube 33 disposed between said 'tube 36 and the windshield. The extension tube,

which is of a diameter approximating the inside diameter of the tube 36 is fixed at its top end to said tube 36 clamp 39. That end part of the clamp 39 embracing the tube 38 is split longitudinally into two parts and a screw 40 passes through said clamp parts and draws them together in clamping engagement upon the tube 35. This structure best appears in Fig. 5.

The bottom end portion of the extension tube 38, which has a relatively small inside diameter,

This

near the nut 32 by means of a.

aaoaaw is curved as a gooseneck bend 4| that terminates in an upwardly extending end which fits in and is secured to the bottom end of the supporting tube 36. Said bottom end of the tube 36 is flanged outwardly as a radial shoulder 42 and the upper extremity of the bore of said end of the extension tube is flared as best appears in Fig. 4. The gooseneck bend 3B of the tube extension 38 is formed with a downwardly extending flanged stud t3 arranged in a plane at a right angle to the plane of the shelf 19 of the instrument board or panel. In said shelf in line with said stud, is fixed a bushing 3d, threaded at its top and bottom ends and having a radial flange 35 for engagement with the top surface of the shelf E9. The bottom end of said bushing receives a nut and associated gasket 36 and when said nut is drawn up tight, the bushing is securely clamped in position to the shelf. Swivelled on the stud 43 is a union nut ll for engagement with the top end portion of the bushing 4 3. When said nut 31, which is made of insulation, is drawn up tight, this tightly connects the tube extension 38 to the shelf of the instrument board it. Thus the tube 35 is rigidly secured to the retainer tube 30 and to the shelf of the instrument board. This arrangement provides for a' complete electrical insulation of the tube 35 and its extension 33 from any ground connection with the vehicle body.

The bottom end of the bushing 43 has a flexible sheath "it connected thereto and which sheath leads to the radio receiving set (not shown) of the vehicle. This sheath which is conventional for radio receiver work, includes a braided metal wire shielding tube which, by reason of its connection I vehicle.

39 indicates the lead in for the radio frequency signals to the radio receiving set. Its extreme top end, while fixed in an insulation bushing 5|] (see Fig. 4) in the top end of the bushing 44, so as to be insulated from the bushing M, has direct contact with the stud t3. When the nut 41 is drawn tight, this functions to place the stud 43 and the lead in wire 53 in good signal transmitting engagement.

Within the supporting tube is the main antenna member 5!. Said member, which is tubular, has a length approximating the distance between the bottom end of the supporting tube 36 and the top end of the crown nut 34. The top end of said main antenna member is somewhat externally the goose-neck bend ti of tapered as appears in Fig. 3 for easy assembly member, in line with the slot 31 in the tube 36, is

a short longitudinally extending slot 52 that best appears in Figs. 6 and '7. Within and substantially the same length as said main tubular antenna member 5i is an auxiliary antenna or extension member 53-in the form of a length of smaller diameter rod. This auxiliary antenna member snugly fits the bore of the main tubular antenna member in a manner whereby while it may be longitudinally movable with respect thereto, it will remain in that position to which it was moved. The top end of said auxiliary antenna member 53 carries a small spherical head 54 which when the antennamembers 5| and 53 are in their retracted minimum receiving position in the tube 35; engages upon the top end of the crown-like nut 34in a manner not only closing will I aeoaese which coacts therewith in giving a finished appearance to said crown-like nut.

55 indicates a tail piece for the auxiliary antenna member 53 in the form of a flexible but nonextensible, non-contractible material such as a helically wound wire tube casing. This tail piece, which has a butt end connection with the bottom end of the member at is normally disposed within the extension tube 38 and has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of said tube ea By reason of the goose neck bend or formation ill of the extension tube it, portions of the tail piece extension 55 will engage portions of the tube bore in the gooseneck with such a frictional contact as to hold the auxiliary antenna member at in that position to which it has'been extended or projected, against the retrograde movement under the gravity action of said auxiliary member. The tail piece 55 is of such length that when the antenna members 5!! and 553 have been projected to their utmost extended position, a portion of said tail piece will remain in the top end of the tube Slidably mounted upon and surrounding the supporting tube as is an actuator or runner tit, whereby the antenna members at and as may be projected or extended and retracted with respect to the supporting tube (it, from the inside of the driver's compartment or the vehicle. The actuator is in the form of a block of insulation which is split longitudinally into front and rear halves bL-it as best appears in Fig. 6 and which halves are held together in operative relation by means of screws 55%. A pair of hidden screws til (see Fig, 7) are sealed in the front half till of the actuator and these screws extend through the slot 3? of the tube 36 into the tubular antenna member iii and whereby the actuator is directly connected to said antenna member.

In that portion of the front half ill of the actuator surrounding itsparts of the tube at, in line with the slot bi in the antenna member bl is provided a recess ti (see Fig. 7) in which is located a gripping jaw or block 62. This inner end of said block extends not only through the slot 3? in the tube at but it also extends through the slot 52 in the antenna member bi. This jaw or block may be said to be capable of a floating in and out movement in the recess til r from a position wherein it grips the auxiliary antenna member 53 to connect it to the main antenna member 55 for joint movement therewith, to one wherein may be moved independently thereof.

To actuate the gripping jaw or block at to grip or release the auxiliary antenna member 53,

the following is provided: In the front half at of the actuator and arranged. in a plane at a right angle to the recess ti ls fixed a metal tube at of rectangular cross section and one end of which is closed as appears in Fig. 6. Slidable in the other and open end of said tube is a plunger t l having a head 55 outside of the actuator bit as a whole. A spring tit is so arranged in the closed end of the tube til as to urge the plunger b ll outwardly. This plunger passes through a recess 62a in the gripping jaw or block 62 and is formed in that portion engaged in the recess 6! with a cam-litre recess bl with which the recess 62a is engaged.

When the plunger bit is pushed inwardly against the action of the spring 66, the cam recess ill of the plunger forces the gripping block or jaw 62 inwardly of its recess ti into gripping engagement with the auxiliary antenna member the main antenna member 53. When pressure on the plunger 64 is released, the spring 66 pushes it outwardly of the tube 83 so that its cam recess 51 lines up with the gripping jaw which floats to release its gripping action upon the antenna extension member 53.

In Figs; 8-9-10 and 11 there is diagrammatically illustrated the different steps of projecting the antenna members 5i53 from their retracted minimum signal receiving position to the fullest projected or extended maximum signal receiving position, of which the antenna members bi53 are capable,

Fig. 8 shows the members ti-EE in their retracted minimum signal receiving position and which corresponds to the position of the parts as they appear in Fig. 1. In this position the actuator St is arranged in its bottommost position upon the supporting tube 35, wherein it is stopped against the flange d2 of said tube. At this time, the main antenna member at is in its lowermost retracted position as is the auxiliary antenna member 53, and the finishing tip 5% thereof is closed against not only the top end of the main antenna member the top end of the crown nut lid so as to seal the bore thereof against the entrance of snow, rain, sleet and dust.

' It is pointed out that under certain conditions the height of the main antenna member at, above the roof, will afiford ample reception of radio frequency waves while under other instances an antenna of a combined height of both members bib-53 is necessary. For ordinary occasions when driving in or near large cities having broadcasting stations, an antenna of a length approximating that of the main antenna memher at when it is in its fully extendedposition, will give good radio reception. However, when the equipped vehicle is quite remote from such stations, a longer and more sensitive antenna having greater signal pick-up may be necessary. Under such conditions, both antenna members are extended to their fullest effective length as appears in Figs. 2 and ii.

To give an effective antenna of the length of the member hi, it is only necessary to grasp the actuator 56 between the thumb and tore-- finger and slide the actuator 5t upwardly on the tube 36 until it engages the clamp 39. In this operation the plunger lid is in no manner engaged. As the finishing tip 5d of the auxiliary antenna member 53 is engaged upon the top end of the main antenna member hi, the member 533 will be carried along with the same into the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. In this projection or extension of the parts, the main antenna member bl slides through the gasket and becomes coated with a thin film of the lubricant contained therein. This not only protects said member against the weather elements, but it permitsthe same to slide easier. When said member is again retracted, this gasket strips said antenna member of any water or other material adhering thereto as for instance rain, snow, sleet or dust.

Should the antenna when extended into the position shown in Fig. 9 not prove to be receptive to radio frequency waves because of the distance fromv the broadcasting station emitting them, the auxiliary antenna member 53 may be extended therefrom in the following manner. The actuator 56 is slid downwardly of the supporting tube from the position shown in Fig. 9, into position against the shoulder at. However,

it is pointed out that by reason of the engagedl but also upon bit tilt

ment of the tail piece 55 in the gooseneck portion 4|, a frictional engagement is there present which has a greater resistance than the frictional engagement between the antenna members 5I--53. Thus, when the actuator 56 is moved downwardly on the tube 36 as before men: tioned, this leaves the auxiliary antenna member 53 in its previous or part-way extended position, as appears in Fig. where it is at the same height as it was in Fig. 9.

By pressing in on the plunger 64, which causes the jaw 62 to grip against a part of the tail piece 55 of the auxiliary antenna member 53 and simultaneously therewith sliding the actuator 56 upwardly on the tube 36, both members 5 I-53 are projected into their fullest extended position which appears in Fig. 11 and which corre' sponds to the position shown in Fig. 2. This gives an antenna substantially twice the length of the member 53. In this respect it is pointed out that the sliding or manipulation of the actuator A 56 for both lengths of the extended antenna is accomplished from within the driver's compartment of the vehicle. Radio frequency signals received by the antenna members 5l--53 and 36 are transmitted through the stud 43 to the lead in 49 for transmission to the radio receiving set.

To retract the antenna members 5I-53 into their minimum signal receiving positions, the

procedure is as follows: starting with the parts shown in Fig. 11, the plunger 64 is pushed inwardly to cause the jaw 62 to again grip the tail piece of the, auxiliary antenna member 53 so as to connect the members 5l-53 together. Thereafter the actuator 56 is slid downwardly of the tube 36 until said actuator engages against the shoulder 42 as astop. This returns the parts to the position shown in Fig. 10. At this time, the tail piece 55 has travelled partway about the goose neck bend 4! so as to offer a frictional resistance to the movement of the member 53. The pressure on the plunger 64 is then released to disconnect the member 5| from the member 53 after which the actuator is slid upwardly on the tube 36 into engagement with the clamp 39 at which time the two members 5|-53 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 9.

The plunger 64 is then pushed inwardly to again connect the member 52-53 together, after.

which the actuator is slid downwardly of the tube 36 to retract both antenna members into the minimum signal receiving position-shown in Fig. 8. When the actuator has engaged the shoulder 42, the operator's hand is released therefrom when the spring 66 functions to push the plunger 64 outwardly of the tube 63 to bring the cam recess 61 therein into alignment with .the gripping jaw 62 which then releases its grip on the antenna member 53.

It is to be noted that the fitting including the nut 41, whereby the bottom end of. the supporting member is held in fixed position, is connected directly to the instrument board. This permits of a short lead in from the antenna to the set as most automobile radio receiving sets are located directly beneath the shelf of the instrument board thereof, so that signal loss, due to the capacity of a. long shielded lead in between the antenna and the set is reduced to a minimum.

By reason of the use of thetube 36, the top end of the tube 36 is not only rigidly held against vibration which might set up objectionable noises but it permits of a tight, water and weather proof engagement between the finishing cap and the roof portion.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction and operation of the parts described, the same isonly to be considered in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a vehicle having I! compartment defined at least in part by a roof ,portion, a member fixed in said compartment,

means providing a main antenna slidably mounted on said fixed member for projection through the roof portion into one signal receiving position, means providing an auxiliary antenna member relatively movable with respect to said main antenna member for projection therebeyond as an extension thereof. into a position of maximum effectiveness, and means operable from within said compartment for projecting said main and said extension antenna members respectively into signal receiving position above the roof portion and for retracting them into a position within said compartment.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a member fixed in the compartment, means providing a main antenna member slidably mounted on said fixed member for projection through the roof portion into one signal receiving.

position, means providing an auxiliary antenna member relatively movable with-respect to said main antenna member for projection therebeyond as an extension thereof into a position of maximum effectiveness, and means normally connected to said main antenna member and operable from within said compartment for projecting said main and said extension antenna member respectively into signal receiving positiori above'the roof and for retracting the same into a position within said compartment.

3. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a tubular member fixed in said compartment, a main antenna member arranged in said tubular member for telescopic movement therein for projection up through the roof portion into one signal receiving position, means providing an auxiliary antenna member and normally arranged for telescopic movement with respect to the main antenna member for forming an extension thereof, and means associated with said main and auxiliary antenna members and operable from within said compartment for projecting said main and said auxiliary antenna. members into their signal receiving position above the roof portion and for retracting them back into said compartment.

4. In combination with a vehicle having a driver's compartment and defined at least in part by a roof portion, a windshield and an instrument board, a tubular member in said compartment to the rear of the windshield, means for operatively securing an upper portion of said tubular member to said roof portion, means for operatively securing another portion of said tubular member to said instrument board, a main antenna member arranged for telescopic movement in said tubular member for projection up through the roof portion, means prow'ding an auxiliary antenna member and normally arranged for telescopic movement with respect to the main antenna member for forming an extension thereof, and means associated with said main and said auxiliary antenna members respec- 15 into signal receiving position portion and for projecting said aeoaeee tively and operable from within said compartsignal receiving position, means providing an gitudinal slot therein, and means arranged with a portion thereof in said'slot and attached to one of said antenna members, said means having a portion outside of said tubular member and operable from within said compartment for projecting said main and said auxiliary antenna members into a signal position above said roof portion and for retracting them back into a position in said compartment.

6. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a tubular member fixed in said compartmember arranged in said tubular member for telescopic movement therein for projection up through the roof portion into signal receiving position, means providing an respect to said tubular member and operable from within the compartment for projecting the main antenna member into its signal receiving position above the roof and also operable to project said auxiliary antenna member into a signal receiving position above said main antenna mem her and for returning both antenna members into a position in said compartment.

7. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a tubular member in said compartment, a tubular antenna member in said tubular memher for telescopic movement therein for projection up through said roof portion into signalreceiving position, a second antenna member arranged for telescopic movement in said tubular antenna member for projection therefrom into a position forming an extension thereof, and means slidably arranged with respect to said tubular member and operable from within said compartment for projecting the tubular antenna member above the roof second antenna member into signal receiving position above said main antenna member, said slidable means also being operable for retracting both antenna members into a position in said tubular member in said compartment.

8. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a tubular member in said compartment, and having a longitudinal slot therein, a main tubular antenna member telescopically arranged in said tubular member for projection up through the roof portion into signal receiving position, a second antenna member telescopically arranged in said tubular antenna member, a member slidable with respect to said tubular member and operable to project the main antenna member into vehicle having a signal receiving position, and means carried by said slidable member and operable to be connected to said second antenna member for projecting it into signal receiving position with re= spect to the main antenna member.

9. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a roof portion, a tubularmember in said compartment, a main antenna. member telescopically arranged in said tubular member for projection up through the roof portion into signal receiving position, a

ing position above the first mentioned one to form an extension for said main antenna member.

10.111 combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a root portion, a tubular member in said compartment, a main antenna member telescopically arranged in'said tubular member for projection into signal receiving position above said rooi portion, a second antenna member telescopically arranged in the main antenna member, means providing a flexible yet inextensible tail piece for said second antenna member, means for receiving said tail piece when both members are in their nonsignalling receiving position in said tubular memher, and means operable to first move both an tenna members into the signal receiving position of the main antenna member and then further operable through the tail piece to project the second antenna member into its signal receiving position above the main antenna member so as to form an extension therefor.

11. In combination with a vehicle having a compartment defined at least in part by a root portion, a substantially U shaped tubular member fixed in said compartment and including a pair of upwardly extending tubular portions connected at the bottom end by a bend, a main antenna member telescopically engaged in one of said tubular portions, a second antenna member telescopically arranged in said first mentioned antenna member, a flexible but inextensible tail piece for said second antenna member, disposed in the other of said tubular portions and in said bend respectively when said antenna members are in their retracted position in said U-shaped tubular member, and means slidable upon one of said tubular portions of said U- shaped tubular member and operable to project both antenna members into a signal receiving position above the roof portion and wherein the second mentioned antenna member forms an extension for the main antenna member.

12. In combination with an automotive vehicle of the closed body type, which includes an instrument panel behind its power plant and a windshield, rising from the instrument panel, comprising a grounded metallic mullion and glass panes disposed laterally of and separated by said mullion, an inside aerial comprising an elongated metallic conductor extending between the upper portion of the instrument panel and the roof of the vehicle, said elongated conductor lying behind and in proximity to and in substantial parallelism with but out of contact with said grounded mullion, insulating means for securing 1 metallic conductor means for securing parallelism manipulated from the extension or retraction through an aperture in the roof of the vehicle.

said elongated conductor to the roof, insulating said. elongated conductor to the upper portion of the instrument panel, and an aerial-to-receiver lead connected to said elongated conductor and extending through the instrument panel for close connection with a radio receiver to be located on the opposite side of the instrument panel.

13. In combination withan automotive vehicle of the closed body type, which includes an instrument panel behind its power plant and a windshield, rising from the instrument panel, comprising a grounded metallic mullion and glass panes disposed laterally of and separated by said mullion, an inside aerial comprising an elongated metallic conductor extending between the upper portion of the instrument panel and the roof of the vehicle, said elongated conductor lying behind and in proximity to and in substantial with but out of contact with said grounded mullion, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the roof, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to prising a tubular metal member, and an extensible aerial section telescopically engaged with said tubular metal member, and

inside of the vehicle for 14. In combination with an automotive vehicle of the closed body type, which includes an instrument panel behind its power plant and a windshield, rising from the instrument panel, comprising a grounded metallic mullion and glass panes disposed laterally of and separated by said mullion, an inside aerial comprising an elongated extending between the upper portion of the instrument panel and the roof of the vehicle, said'elongated conductor lying behind and in proximity to and in substantialparallelism with but out of contact with said grounded mullion, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the roof, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the upper portionof the instrument panel, andan aerial-to-receiverlead connected to said elongated conductor and extending through the instrument panel for close connection with a radio receiver to be located on the oppositeside of the instrument panel, said insulating means for securing said aerial to the upper portion of the instrument panel comprising a hollow threaded metal member passing through the instrument gated conductor and extending adapted'to be panel and carrying means engaging the opposite sides of said panel, andsaid aerial having a shoulder adjacent its lower end and a threaded insulating member engaging said shoulder on said aerial and threaded on said hollow member.

15. In combination with an automotive vehicle or the closed body type, which includes an instrument panel behind its power plant and a windshield, rising from the instrument panel, comprising a grounded metallic mullion and glass panes disposed laterally of and separated by said mullion, an inside aerial comprising an elongated metallic conductor extending between the upper portion of the instrument panel and the roof of the vehicle, said elongated conductor lying behind! and in proximity to and in substantial parallelism with but out of contact with said grounded mullion, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the roof, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the upper portion of the instrument panel, and an. aerial-to-receiver lead connected to said elonthrough the instrument panel for close connection with a radio receiver to be located on the opposite side oi. the instrument panel, said insulating means for securingsaid aerial to the roof comprising a tubular metal guide, insulating members carrying said guide and threaded means carried by said guide for holding said insulating members in engagement with parts inside and outside said roof.

16. In combination with an a tomotive vehicle of the closed bodytype, whichincludes an instrument panel behind its power plant and a windshield, rising from the instrument panel,

, comprising a. grounded metallic mullion and glass panes disposed laterally of and separated by said mullion, an inside aerial'comprising an elongated metallic conductor extending between the upper portion of the instrument panel and the roof of the vehicle, said elongated conductor lying behind and in proximity to and in substantial parallelism with but out of contact with said grounded mullion, insulating means for securing said elongated conductor to the roof, said aerial having an annular shoulder substantially at its lower end, a hollow threaded instrument panel fitting carried by the upper portion of the instrument panel, an aerial-to-receiver lead-in conductor carried by said fitting and insulated from said panel to engage an end portion or said aerial and an insulating collar en ag ng said shoulder on said aerial and threaded on said fitting to hold the aerial and lead-in conductor in electrical contact, for close connection with a radio receiver to be located on the opposite side of the instrument panel. JOSEPH F. COURTNEY. 

